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Probing the Secrets of the Chinese Marine Corps
www.chinanews.cn 2005-10-13 16:05:58
Chinanews, Beijing, Oct. 13 (By Han Haibing & Tao Shelan) - This is a
group of soldiers steeped in mystery, whose footprints can be found in
the depth of the South China Sea and high up on the snowfields in
Northern China. This force does not have a large number of soldiers, but
it is one of five categories of forces in the Chinese Navy.
It is the renowned Chinese Marine Corps. This year is the 25th
anniversary since the inception of the corps, when our reporter paid it a
visit, trying to probe its secrets.
When asked about the original background of the Chinese Marine Corps,
Officer Lee explained that it is a specially equipped force of amphibious
operation, an indispensable strike force fighting for control of the sea.
In China, there are more than 3 million square kilometers of territorial
water with several thousand islands. Reinforcing the construction of the
marine corps is necessary to preserve the integrity and unity of the
nation's maritime rights and its territories.
"The marine corps is a force composed of different military capabilities
which can undertake fast landing, coastal and island defense and the
support of other amphibious battles," said Officers Lee. "The Chinese
Marine Corps includes the infantry, the artillery, armored units,
engineer corps, chemical defense units, communication units, etc. They
have undertaken flood control in 1998, military reviews on National Day,
important war exercises and many other diplomatic assignments, which
showed the glamour of this force as the "army of armies, iron of iron".
The Marine Corps differs from other military units in its characteristic
equipment that combine that used by the army, the navy and the air force.
Weaponry was seen in the camps of the corps, including various automatic
weapons for the infantry, amphibious tanks, amphibious armored vehicles,
self-propelled guns of various calibers, anti-tank missiles and more.
Besides, there is seafaring and landing equipment for amphibious battles,
including attack helicopters in the air as well as new naval landing
crafts and high-speed hovercrafts on the water. It is almost like an
armament exhibition." Officer Lee said proudly, "All made in China!"
Officers in charge of training young recruits told us that amphibious
scouts call for strong bodies and great military skills, which they will
need to defeat the enemies with intelligence and bravery. In combat they
shall know how to use heavy or light weapons, and be able to beat the
enemy in hand-to-hand combat on a beachhead or under water. When in
motion, they should be able to swim more than ten thousand meters across
the ocean loaded with weight, as well as drive a motorcycle, a car, an
amphibious tank, etc. Furthermore, they should possess the skills of
airborne troops.
The Chinese Marine Corps is famous for its strict training. In order to
survive and continuously fight under adverse circumstances, they undergo
many adaptation trainings under various climatic conditions in different
areas. The difficulty and intensity of such training are hard to believe.
"Train for a thousand days, ready for battle any day." The marine corps
will perform many types of realistic war exercises so as to shorten the
distance between practice and reality, improving their rapid response
capabilities and their combat effectiveness as a whole. (End)
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